Evaluation of induced infections as a research method.

Induced intramammary infections have been used to elucidate the route of invasion and the response of the gland once invading microorganisms have entered the teat cistern. Currently, such infections have been employed to study factors affecting the efficacy and excretion of antibiotic and chemotherapeutic products infused into the mammary gland for treatment and control of mastitis. They provide a means for controlled standardized conditions which cannot be obtained in commercial herds often employed in field studies.